Chapter Text
Summer's warm, Kashuu thinks below the cries of the cicada, resting against the door with a quiet yawn. He blinks wearily and stands with a stretch, padding over to the water's edge and dipping his fingers in the cool pond. I wonder if the saniwa's going to have us fight in this heat. I don't mind, other than how sweaty I'll get, but...
The younger ones might have some trouble. The water ripples around his finger and he stiffens as he feels someone coming up from behind him, relaxing only a little when Yamato's familiar voice floats in the air.
"It's nice today, isn't it?"
"You wear more layers than I do, so I don't see how you aren't suffering from a heat stroke."
"Says the one wearing such dark colors," Yamato laughs and sits beside him, dipping his whole hand into the water. Kashuu huffs and dries his fingers on the other's blue fabric. "There's a good breeze though, so I don't think we'll have to worry about the heat that much."
As if one cue there's a gust high above, sweeping down with the leaves, and Kashuu closes his eyes. He's right. It is a good one. And out on the open battlefield, with no walls or trees to prevent it, it'd be a strong wind. It stays so quiet that Kashuu almost forgets he's not alone and starts to doze, jolting slightly when his companion speaks up.
"I don't think we should battle while the sun's so high in the sky, though. The Saniwa might overheat and collapse like Okita-kun did."
"Ahh, you're so gloomy. Why don't you think about something good for once?" He snaps, resting back on his hands. Striking loyalty to one master was annoying enough - but that was just something some of them did. Could afford to do, really. They didn't have to worry about being abandoned... Some of them knew the fate of being passed around like that, more than he did for sure, but. Yamato's staring at him when he opens his eyes. "What?"
"Kashuu, do you miss Okita-kun?"
... Did he miss Okita? Kashuu knows he's a high maintenance sword, but Okita'd kept him anyway. Maybe he missed their old master a little, but it wasn't either of their fault he died. Okita's body was weak. Nothing a sword could help with. Unlike the others, they didn't have that regret - just that it hadn't lasted longer... Yamato had insisted on staying by Okita's side until the last breathe, but Kashuu remembers days spent outside and nights looking at the stars, trying to ignore the persistent cough from within. He picks at the grass.
"... It would've been better if we'd had someone who was more long-lived as a master."
"That wasn't my question, Kashuu."
Kashuu puckers his lips at the scolding tone and unbuckles his boots, setting them away and rolling up his pants to rest his feet in the water. "That guy was crazy about hard to use swords like us. I don't remember anyone else really wanting to even be in our company, until the saniwa anyway. And it's her job."
"So you do." Yamato's knowing smile is annoying as his gloom, but he still feels the tips of his ears burn with embarrassment. "I know it's obvious, but I do too..."
Back to silence. The pond feels great, but Kashuu doesn't want to lay back. He'd get grass all over his clothes and in his hair. Maybe if there was something behind him. Yamato, on the other hand, has no issue with it, flopping back after sliding his bared feet in next to Kashuu's, sighing pleasantly.
"If we do go out today, let's see if we can lead the enemy near a river. That way, once we cut their heads clean off, the saniwa can rest someplace cooler."
Kashuu still thinks he's worrying a little too much - that person doesn't have a weak body like Okita did - but Yamato was leading today, so it'd get done. "Just make sure you don't splash any blood my way. I might wear black, but it's still noticeable once it dries."
Yamato gives a small salute from his spot on the ground, shut eyes crinkling slightly, "Understood, Kashuu. Let's give it our all today."